I realize that you can't get a permanent residence visa in a lot of the more desirable countries (e.g., Ecuador) unless you commit to spending a couple hundred-thousand dollars within that country, and employ ONLY the natives. Consequently, several people are becoming "builders." The main problem is that once they hire "builder employees/workers," those workers DRAAAAAG out a job. Plus, the game continues on a hiked up level the moment that the business owner leaves their foreign country home, or the country, to travel -- that's when the 'workers' CEASE working [truly, sometimes for a few months, there is no shame felt].

Anyhow, to those who are the most daring ... proceed, with caution, all investments should be viewed as a form of gambling! Sometimes the "contractor supervisor" you hire is in on the gig too! That's why their houses are taking 4-5 times longer than necessary to be built and usually took more than one crew and supervisor after multiple firings and weedings-out. Oh, and the costs charged to you are also 2-3 times larger. This appears to be a stressful lifestyle, may be a bit less so for someone who KNOWS how to build big houses and observes at the jobsite Mondays through Fridays until each house is built though. [Or requires that their supervisor send weekly project update photos].

Having several millions of dollars in my financial accounts means receiving several valuable services each day!

To be honest with you, I wouldn't change much if I won either. I'd plan to stay in the same neighborhood, and I really like my job.*

My children are still fairly young (under 10). I'd like them to grow up living a fairly "normal" life, watching their parents go to work every day, knowing that they will be expected to be responsible and work hard when they grow up as well.

I wouldn't want my kids to know that I was wealthy, as I wouldn't want them to turn into some sort of "rich kid stereotype." (No way would I raise a Paris Hilton-esque kid!)

It would be nice to have the financial security - that's what I would dream of...not living a flashy lifestyle.

I guess I had a good example in my parents. My dad built a successful business from the ground up and made some good investments. I discovered as an adult that my parents are quite well-off, but no one would guess that by knowing them. My dad drove the same pickup truck for 10 years (and probably would have continued to drive it longer if someone hadn't rear-ended him). They live in the same modest farmhouse my dad lived in as a child. They don't buy a bunch of stuff they don't need, etc.

* I'd consider going to medical school if I won, because I'd like to be able to help people. Perhaps work in a free clinic or something like that...since I wouldn't "need" a certain salary to pay off school loans or anything like that. But if I didn't do that, I'd really consider staying at my current job.